Invitation to join a small Private Community Homestead

Kate Michaud

Posts: 77

Location: Ontario, Canada

4

posted 3 years ago

1

This is an invitation to join a small Private Community Homestead.

To begin, I have 35 years experience in working with groups in Hands On situations, managing Logistics, and coordinating projects.
I have thought on this long and hard, have done all the research with regards to By-laws and the like, and in this County this is how it would be set up:

This would be a cost sharing endeavor for a maximum of 8 persons (including me), so there are 7 spots open.
All inclusive cost sharing would be $200.00 per month, this would also secure a slush fund/petty cash for community expenditures, ex; additional fencing, livestock, etc.

Your capital investment is to procure/build your own Tiny House/Caravan on wheels, this has to do with this area's By-laws. Your dwelling could be built on the premises over the summer.
The property offers a variety of locations for more, or less privacy, depending on individuals needs and/or requirements.
Caravans/Tiny Houses would have to be winterized, and I have worked out a design and cost estimates for this region.
By-laws would permit Tiny Houses/European style Caravans to be extensions of the main house if they are not considered to be self contained = don't install a full kitchen.
Meals are taken in the main house, which has an open concept and can accommodate without much effort. Makes sense, if we've produced the food together, we should eat together.

I have 32.5 acres bush/forest and pasture, with water courses and interesting elevations somewhat akin to B. Falk's 15 acre property in Virginia.
The property is located in Renfrew County, On. Canada. It's within 3 minutes drive of a Village Market, and 20 minutes of Hospitals, Farmers Markets and the like.
Yes, there is snow, and some of us love it.

This is a working Homestead, so the bull work is done.
I have the Land Patent Grants, that are copies of the original Deeds to the property, (this goes along way in dealing with Municipalities).
The main house is built to spec.
There is a decent barn and out buildings.
There is small livestock; goats, poultry and 2 equine.
We produce cheese, milk, eggs and meat, as well as equine compost.
On site access to building materials, timber, stone, clay for projects.

Have small diesel tractor, brush hog, hay elevator, and chipper.
A housed outdoor kitchen with rocket oven, and future rocket stoves.
There is the potential for all manor of; passive solar, methane applications.
There is a Farm Equipment/Rental dealer nearby with very reasonable rates for larger projects.

There is electricity, although this is being weened back as projects are completed reducing/eliminating dependency over time.
There are 2 wells, one drilled and one dug.

As well as Permaculture experience/willingness, any of the Skill sets listed would be an asset;

Under existing regional By-laws this group would be classed a Fraternity of Permaculture Practitioners. The land is to be shared and worked together, in a spirit on common respect of person and property.
How would decisions be made? I believe every person has a specialty, and that person should be the one to Lead, by knowledgeable advice, or hands on management.
When it comes to legal/By-law matters pertaining to the property itself, well, that is the responsibility of the owner.

The purpose of the Fraternity is to live sustainably, and provide for each other. We would, in a sense, adopt each other, in a bid for a better quality of life, and to never be Warehoused!
Obviously, we would have to ensure that all are on the same page, mind set, and just be able to get along long term prior to committing.

My family is hoping that the Fraternity will also produce a Custodian or Steward for this property, as it is already set up for the next generation.
I believe this proposal to be realistically viable. All that is needed is you, your dwelling on wheels, and your enthusiasm.

Please fell free to ask what ever may come to mind, as not all questions or details can be offered here.
In the hope that I have covered all the bases...

this looks like an amazing opportunity and very well thought out! If I lived in Ontario I might go for it myself.

Would you want feedback from the peanut gallery here? It can be helpful to have people try to poke holes in your plan to see if it can be made stronger. Also, there's great threads about leadership structures on this site (the one about hybrid dictatorship and consensus is a good one).

I like the part about each individual having leadership of their specialty area and no one being "warehoused." And greally beautiful photos. Good luck!

Connected or reconnected. Fit with the right cycles and in the right season. Nourished and nurtured with natural energy. Aware of place and part.

Kate Michaud

Posts: 77

Location: Ontario, Canada

4

posted 2 years ago

2

Thank you Joshua for the encouraging post. I most often get a comment that Ontario is too cold.

I have been researching this concept's logistics for over a year, by research I mean the County by-laws, terms and definitions.

In my family, the Elder Matriarchs guide and nurture family members by imparting their practical and philosophical wisdom, much like many First Nations Traditional Communities, yet my Ancestral lineage is Scottish/Irish. If I were to use the term Traditional, by contemporary definition, that would harken back to a Victorian standard of separation by gender roles. Life on the Land can hardly afford the luxury of separation, a weakening of the social fabric and work force required to succeed. Therefore, each person has a strength/gift to bring to the whole, a perspective and knowledge only they can offer, and by this enrich everyone. Every person is important to the whole, to the well being of the village (as it were).

Economically, I believe that the ever widening gap between the high and low income earners will create a social need for low income persons to band together of into small groups who know better how to care for each other, rather than rely on a system that is in collapse. This is happening in Europe with a Co-Abode concept.

I would love to hear from the peanut gallery, it gives me the opportunity to further the logistics of the initial Invitation, and share in/with other visions.

Cheers. K

Many hands make light work.
Laughter is the best medicine.

Karyn Tietz

Posts: 8

posted 2 years ago

How would someone from the US come over the boarder? I can cook like a mad women, picture of my latest Baked Feta with Roasted Almond Silvers Fresh Mint and Honey Drizzle! Also another recent one is Stewed Root Vegetables, it was yummy. I live in Montana so am used to the cold! ktietzinmt@hotmail.com

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Dale Hodgins

garden master

Posts: 6680

Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

252

posted 2 years ago

I have been to this part of Ontario and have been to a few farms. When careful attention is paid to micro climate, many things can be grown. Most of Ontario's agricultural production comes from further south.

One thing that I have always found surprising and amusing, is just how poorly some buildings are designed for the climate. Metal quansets and other accessory buildings suited to the American south are often built by newcomers to the north. Animals don't thrive in frigid buildings and equipment gets so cold that metal breaks and oil won't flow. I traveled this area with my dad as we searched for land. We lived in balmy St. Catherine's on the south shore of Lake Ontario. Most places that we looked at, had at least one building that would be a nightmare to heat.